What is Reiki or Energy Healing?

Reiki (or Reiki Ryoho), is a hands on healing modality that promotes and supports wellbeing.    It is great for stress, anxiety and illness.  Reiki restores and rebalances our energy; allowing the body to do what it was naturally designed to do, and that is, heal itself.
The word Reiki is Japanese in origin and it refers to the universal energy.  (Rei) means something mysterious, miraculous and sacred and (Ki) means the atmosphere, the unseen, or the energy of the universe.  Reiki can be defined as a miraculous and sacred energy of the universe that sustains all life.

The Benefits of Reiki and Reiki Research

Reiki has some amazing benefits such as promoting health and wellbeing.  It also helps with pain management, encourages mental clarity, releases stress and tension in the physical body, relieves depression, reduces anxiety, aids relaxation, improves sleep, smooths digestion, strengthens self-esteem, heightens self-awareness and intuition and offers support for substance abuse recovery.  Treatments are for 1 hour in a warm and nurturing environment - either sitting or lying down fully clothed.

There has been a lot of research conducted into the benefits of Reiki.    If you are interested in finding out more, The Centre for Reiki Research is a great website for peer-reviewed research and stories that have been written on the benefits of Reiki.  

​If you would like to learn Reiki or book in for a treatment you can book here.

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What is Reiki Ryoho?

Reiki Ryoho originated in Japan.  It is a hands on healing modality to rebalance the mind and body by channelling the unlimited energy of the universe.  Reiki Ryoho (practice), is very simple to learn and anyone can be "attuned" or initiated into Reiki. 

"Attunement" is the ritual also called "Reiju" in which you can become a Reiki practitioner or you can simply use it to heal yourself, family, friends or pets.   The "attunement" is performed by the Reiki Master/Teacher.

Reiki is a tool where you can develop your spiritual growth, which evolves as the individual learns on their own spiritual path.

Reiki Precepts

The Reiki Precepts are the concepts or principals that are part of the spiritual teachings of Reiki.  The term Usui Reiki Ryoho refers to the original Usui document.  Above is a picture of the original wall hanging of the precepts.  The English translation is :

The secret method of inviting happiness through many blessings
The spiritual medicine of all illness

For today only:
Don't get angry
Don't worry
Be grateful
​Work hard
Be kind to others

Do gassho every morning and evening
Keep in your mind and recite

Dr. Mikao Usui

Mikao Usui (1865 - 1926)

Mikao Usui was  born on 15th August, 1865 in the village of Taniai.  He attained enlightenment in 1922 while he was fasting and meditating on Mt. Kurama in Kyoto, an ancient city in Japan.

Mikao Usui may have come up with the word "Reiki Ryoho" from Mataji Kawakami who wrote a book in 1919 titled "Reiki Healing and Its Effects".  Reiki Ryoho were words to describe the meaning of the practice of Reiki.  This healing ability occurred at the same time he attained spiritual enlightenment, as a godsend, at the age of 57 in 1922.

He wanted to share this amazing gift of healing with the people, so he opened up a clinic "Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai" at Aoyama, Tokyo in 1922.

In 1925 he moved to Nakano, a suburb of Tokyo to spread his Reiki teachings and was very often invited to teach in the Hiroshima, Saga and Kyusu areas.  On 9th March, 1926 he passed away on the road (while travelling) at Fukuyama in Hiroshima Prefecture.

Usui's memorial stone (pictured below) is located at Saihoji Buddhist Temple of Jodo-shu or Pure Land sect of Japanese Buddhism in Tokyo, Japan.

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The History of Reiki

In 1914, Mataji Kawakami, a Japanese therapist, created a healing style he called Reiki Ryoho and in 1919, he published his book titled "Reiki Healing and Its Effects".  This was eight years prior to when Usui Sensei developed his technique.   It is possible that Usui Sensei read this book as it is interesting that he referred to his healing method using the same two words except to add his name to it.  This information comes from Hiroshi Doi Sensei and Toshitaka Mochitzuki Sensei.

The other Reiki healing techniques at the time were Reikan Tonetsu Ryoho created by Reikaku Ishinuki, Senshinryu Reiki Ryoho created by Kogetsu Matsubara and Seido Reishojutsu created by Reisen Oyama.

Because of the circumstances that developed during World Ware II along with the work of Takata Sensei, the other forms of Reiki fell into disuse or remained relatively unknown while Usui Reiki continued to be practiced and grew in popularity.

Energy healing has been around for a very long time and part of each person's spiritual development.  

(Above) Shrine and Buddhist Temple at Mount Kurama which is a mountain to the north west of the city of Kyoto in Japan.  This is where Mikao Usui meditated and fasted for 21 days in which time he attained enlightenment and as a god given gift, realised he had this healing ability now known as Reiki.   Kurama Temple is now a national treasure.

Mikao Usui's grave, Tokyo just near his memorial stone.

Hayashi Chujiro

​Hayashi Chujiro (1879-1940), a captain of the Imperial Navy of Japan, was initiated into Shinpiden (Reiki Teacher/Master) in 1925 after his retirement from the Navy.  He then opened up his Reiki clinic in Tokyo.
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Hawayo Takata

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Alot of Western Reiki practitioners have a lineage going back through ​Mrs Hawayo Takata (1900-1980), a Japanese American, born in Hawaii.  She brought Reiki to the West and without her, it is unlikely that anyone outside of Japan would even recognise the word "Reiki" today.

Takata practiced and taught Reiki for more than forty years and was a powerful healer, a great teacher and successful businesswoman.  She managed a few different business enterprises but she did not leave any detailed records about her work.

She was treated with Reiki by Hayashi when she was diagnosed with a serious gall bladder ailment.   She travelled to Japan for the treatment and recovered in four months.  She was so impressed with her healing that she worked for Hayashi as a Reiki student for around one year before returning to Hawaii.

Hayashi visited Mrs Takata in Hawaii in 1938 and initiated her into Shinpiden (Reiki Master/Teacher) and she set up her Reiki clinic in Hawaii. 

Takata did not provide her students with a manual or printed materials like Usui Sensei and Hayashi Sensei and did not allow the taking of notes during her classes.  This was to make sure her students listened with their hearts and not with their heads and use her words in their memory.  She had no prepared text and so each of her classes were different.  Because of her style of teaching, many myths were created about her over time.

Later in life, she initiated 22 Reiki Teachers (Reiki Masters) and thanks to their devotion, Reiki Ryoho has become widespread in the West.

In 1984 Reiki Ryoho came back to Japan which is the birthplace of Reiki and now in Japan, many Western Reiki Ryoho modalities are becoming more and more popular, while the traditional Reiki such as (Usui Reiki Ryoho) practiced in the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai has successively been in existence.

Reiki Lineage

Nikki Staley (Reiki Master/Teacher) and founder of Staley Health was initiated into Reiki by Frans Steine. 

My Reiki Linkeage:
1.  Mikao Usui
2. Kanichi Takehomi
3. Kimiko Koyama
4. Hiroshi Doi
6. Frans Steine
7. Nikki Staley

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